Rescuing the Situation!

We know that when you are doing a set routine, if you go wrong early on you often don't manage to get back on track again. To help you get the most from your first dance, we give you a Beginning, an Ending, and a 'Flexible Middle Bit' - a step-set of small building blocks that you can fit together to make the dance slightly shorter or longer - that way, it doesn't matter if you don't start on an exact note in the music, or if you leave it a bit late to start your fancy finish. The chances are that you probably won't go wrong at all on the Big Day, but if you do, then DON'T PANIC!

Firstly, the lights will probably be down, and the Bride will often be wearing a long dress, so people won't see your feet - they will be concentrating on the mood of the evening, the music and the happy occasion. Most of your guests will not be dancers, so unless you make it very obvious, they won't know even if you do go wrong. And even if they do notice, you'll be forgiven on the grounds of nerves!

The golden rule here is, if at all possible, KEEP GOING. If one partner can keep the basic rhythm going on their own, then the other partner can walk round in a big circle in time to the music, walk back to the partner that has kept going, take hold and carry on dancing, matching the rhythm of the one that has kept going. Generally, guys should circle anticlockwise and girls should circle clockwise.

To make this look like part of the dance, you must both ooze confidence - smile, hold your arms out, walk in a dance-like way. Brides could also hold their dress out with the left hand, gently waving it back and forth. To get back together again, whether it's the Groom or the Bride that's 'gone for a walk' , the Groom should hold out his left hand towards his partner with the palm up and you will then be easily able to get into dance hold again and go into your basic movement.

Another option is to just sway or smooch on the spot for a few beats of music until you can pick up the beat again and carry on - keep moving and your guests won't know it's not part of your dance.

In one very extreme case a few years ago, the couple had chosen a Jive for their first dance. The bride caught her heel in her dress and tripped. The Groom kicked his leg over her, shouted out 'Hey, Rock 'n' Roll', then extended his hand to help his partner up and they carried on dancing. The guests thought it was all part of the routine, and said what a brilliant dance it had been. Now that's what you call really oozing confidence!